Cafeteria

As soon as Mashima Tomoya left, the classroom erupted into a cacophony of voices.

"100,000 yen? Is that even for real?"

"Hahaha, I must have used up all the luck in my life just to get into Advanced Nurturing High School!"

"Not only is our placement guaranteed, but we get paid too. This school treats us way too well."

Just as the students were chatting away happily, Katsuragi Kohei made a suggestion.

"Before the opening ceremony, why don't we all introduce ourselves? After all, we're going to be classmates from here on out."

Hearing this, many people's eyes lit up.

Clearly, the proposal was immediately met with the approval of the majority of the students.

Katsuragi Kohei then walked to the center of the podium, his gaze sweeping across the room: "Let's go in seating order for the introductions. Keep it brief—efficiency first."

Sakayanagi Arisu's short, silvery-white hair shimmered coldly in the morning light as she gently twirled her cane: "Don't be so impatient, Katsuragi-kun. Though, I suppose it's better than trying to figure out the rules while staring at a bunch of 'nobodies'." She said the word "rules" very softly, yet it made several sharp-witted students frown—the rules of this school remained obscure even now.

Katsuragi Kohei spoke first: "My name is Katsuragi Kohei. I don't have any particular hobbies. My goal is to graduate smoothly and find a good job. I hope we can all work hard together in the days to come. Please treat me well."

Sakayanagi rose with a light chuckle: "Sakayanagi Arisu. If Uesugi-kun wants to court me, it won't be easy, you know." Leaning on her cane, her ice-blue eyes fixed on Uesugi Hara with a playful glint.

"Is that the Sakayanagi? The daughter of the Board Chairman!" Some students began to cheer in excitement.

"Please, everyone, do not accommodate me because of my father. Rather than being his daughter, I hope to spend these three years with you all as an ordinary student."

When it was Uesugi Hara's turn, he nodded, not to be outdone: "Uesugi Hara. If I had to name a goal, it would be to work hard enough to be worthy of Arisu-san."

Another wave of commotion rippled through the room. Although Uesugi Hara looked a bit gloomy (a habit picked up in the months after his butler passed away; the protagonist essentially possessed two sets of memories), he was only slightly inferior to Satonaka Satoshi. If the two stood together, they would surely be called a perfect match, a golden boy and a jade girl.

Sakayanagi Arisu tapped her cane lightly against the floor. "Then I shall look forward to it."

With the introductions finished, it was time for everyone to head to the auditorium for the opening ceremony.

Sakayanagi Arisu declined invitations from others to walk together and called out to Uesugi Hara, who was just about to slip out the back door. "Uesugi-kun, would you mind accompanying this young lady?"

Seeing there was no escape, Uesugi Hara walked up to Sakayanagi Arisu. Like a gentleman inviting a dance partner, he extended his hand and flashed a slightly sunny smile at her. "My pleasure."

On the way to the auditorium.

Sakayanagi Arisu leaned on her cane, her silvery-white hair brushing against her shoulder as a subtle arc formed on her lips: "Uesugi-kun is quite skilled at finding gaps in the rules." She didn't say anything more, but it made Uesugi Hara understand that she had set her sights on him.

"Likewise. Arisu-san is also quite impressive, pointing out exactly what the teacher was deliberately ignoring."

Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled softly and suddenly asked Uesugi Hara, "Uesugi-kun, what do you think of this school?"

"It's pretty good. 100% graduation and employment rates, plus money every month. My previous life couldn't even compare to this."

"Hehe~ Uesugi-kun, you know that's not what I wanted to hear." The little girl stopped in her tracks, a faint smile on her face, her eyes hiding a scrutinizing gaze as she looked at Uesugi Hara.

Tsk, this little girl isn't cute at all! I really want to see her crying! Uesugi Hara thought with malice, though his face remained warm and sunny. "Then what would Arisu-san like to hear?"

The little girl just smiled at him, not answering his question.

Truly not cute at all! Uesugi Hara thought again. But he spoke up anyway: "Mashima-sensei's words were full of traps. First, he mentioned 'points every month,' then 'measuring students by ability,' and 'measuring class ability.' He never said whether we'd get 100,000 points next month, nor did he define the standard for ability. He ignored the role of class points—the whole thing is suspicious."

"And what do you think the problem is?" The little girl slightly retracted her playful smile, her eyes growing more serious, though she asked as if it were an afterthought.

"He's measuring both students and classes, which implies they are one and the same. The only known information related to the class is 'class points,' which suggests that class points are the standard for measuring ability.

Furthermore, he didn't explicitly say we could have a good life at school—just that we get points. By saying 'measure by ability,' he implies that only those with ability can have a good life, meaning only classes with ability can have a good life. Since class points measure the class and personal points fund our lives, class points must determine personal points. Based on the available info, it should be: personal points = class points × 100.

Of course, this is all speculation. We won't know the answer until next month. Or, as he said, 'points can buy anything'—we could use them to purchase information."

Sakayanagi Arisu fell into deep thought; she hadn't connected all those dots herself.

Uesugi Hara watched the little girl lost in thought and gently tugged on the soft, seemingly boneless hand he held in his. "If we don't go now, we'll be late." His tone was somewhat helpless.

"Uesugi-kun is indeed very interesting~" Sakayanagi Arisu snapped back to reality.

The two continued walking toward the school auditorium.

Inside the auditorium for the opening ceremony, the principal's speech went in circles, never once mentioning the school's rules. Uesugi Hara sat in the back row of Class A, with Sakayanagi Arisu beside him.

Listening to the principal's speech above, he couldn't help but sigh that opening ceremonies were equally boring no matter where you were.

After the opening ceremony, it was time for free activities, and the students immediately split into groups.

"Arisu-san, I'm heading to the cafeteria for a meal. What about you?" Uesugi Hara said to the little girl beside him.

"Ara~ Is Uesugi-kun inviting me? Very well." Sakayanagi Arisu leaned on her cane with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, chuckling softly.

Uesugi Hara certainly didn't think the little girl was interested in him; he only assumed she was treating him as a tool.

Uesugi Hara didn't refuse, though—after all, who could turn down a soft, frail little girl? Besides, if the rest of the class found out he let a frail girl with a cane walk through the school all by herself, he would surely be condemned.

In the cafeteria, Uesugi Hara watched Sakayanagi Arisu across from him. Her eating habits were exquisite and refined, taking small, slow bites with elegant poise. Compared to his own habit of shoveling food down at lightning speed and instinctively licking his lips afterward, the curious gazes from those around them made even Uesugi Hara, whose skin was thicker than a city wall in his past life, feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Although his memories contained the dining etiquette taught by a butler, his consciousness was still dominated by that of an ordinary college student, making it hard to control himself when faced with delicious food.

After finishing her meal, Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Uesugi Hara, who had finished long ago. Seeming to notice his awkwardness, she teased, "Uesugi-kun is truly free-spirited and at ease, aren't you?"

Uesugi Hara hurriedly changed the subject. "Arisu-san, do you see that window over there that doesn't require points?"

Sakayanagi Arisu looked in the direction he pointed. "Are you trying to talk about those people who look a bit malnourished, Uesugi-kun?"

"As expected of the clever and brilliant Arisu-san. You saw right through what I wanted to say at a glance."

"Uesugi-kun, you really have a silver tongue. I'm afraid that mouth of yours has deceived many young girls, hasn't it?" Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled softly.

"Not at all, not at all. It's shameful to admit, but I haven't even been in a relationship once after all these years," Uesugi Hara (the 20+18-year-old) said sheepishly.

"So, are you saying that Uesugi-kun has set his sights on me?" Sakayanagi Arisu said playfully.

"That's right. After all, it's hard to look away once you've seen someone as cute as Sakayanagi-san," Uesugi Hara said, feigning shyness.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Uesugi Hara's affected behavior and laughed lightly. "Hehe~ Uesugi-kun is still as silver-tongued as ever~" Even so, she lifted her delicate chin, revealing her snow-white neck.

Uesugi Hara didn't know what this little loli was showing off, but looking at her, he thought, These A-cups probably aren't even as big as my pectoral muscles, right?

The little loli seemed to sense something, looking at Uesugi Hara with suspicious eyes. "I feel like Uesugi-kun is thinking about something very rude?"

Uesugi Hara coughed into his fist and pulled the conversation back. "Judging by those people, it's highly likely that my previous hypothesis was correct."

"That is indeed the case. It seems Uesugi-kun is quite capable after all~."

"Thank you for the compliment, Sakayanagi-san." One day, I'll pin you across my lap and spank you to break you of this way of speaking.

"I feel like Uesugi-kun is thinking about something rude again~" Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze turned sharp, making Uesugi Hara feel completely uneasy.

"Arisu-san, we should get going." He had no choice but to use his ancestral method—changing the subject.

Uesugi Hara stood up and turned to leave.

"Uesugi-kun~"

He was called back immediately. He turned to look at the little loli, only to see her leaning on her cane, smiling at him.

Uesugi Hara suddenly realized something—young ladies don't clean up their own tables! He helplessly walked back to clear the table. Fortunately, the young lady's eating habits were impeccable, and the table was clean; he only needed to carry away the trays.

Damn capitalists! They should all be hung from streetlamps! What? I'm one too now? Never mind then.

Following behind the little loli, Uesugi Hara walked in silence. Suddenly, a question occurred to him—have I been successfully trained? The thought was terrifying! Uesugi Hara looked at the little loli's back, horrified.

Isn't that all supposed to be the job of the little maid Kamuro Masumi? Uesugi Hara felt helpless, only able to pray in his heart that the little loli would hurry up and take the little maid in.